At an undisclosed location in the middle of the desert, members of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) hone their skills in the art of counterinsurgency. Starting the day in the TOC, military-speak for tactical operations center, the Special Forces soldiers prepare for the day’s exercise. As the briefing comes to a close, they proceed to load up the Ground Mobility Vehicles (GMV) with a wide array of weaponry, ranging from M4 carbines to AT-4 anti-armor missile launchers.

The SF soldiers mount their modified HMMWVs (High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle) and head deeper into the wasteland, which will be their area of responsibility (AOR) for the day. Turning onto what in some parts of the world passes as a road, they proceed cross-country leaving a trail of dust in their wake.